Developers of the Balsams Resort have filed for a snowmaking water withdrawl permit, which will allow them to expand skiable acreage at the wilderness resort from 102 acres to more than 1,000 acres.

They seek to withdraw water from the Androscoggin River and pump it through a pipeline for 10 miles using a state right of way along Route 26 to the former Wilderness Ski Area in Dixville Notch.

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The ambitious plan includes greatly expanding the ski terrain at the 10,000-acre Balsams resort.

It calls for increasing ski terrain from 102 acres to more than 1,000 acres.

Currently the idle ski area has 16 trails, four glades, four lifts and 85 percent snowmaking.

The build-out plan calls for 23 lifts, including a gondola, which would operate year-round.

The filing with the Department of Environmental Services calls for water withdrawls daily of up to 2.9 million cubic feet of water from Nov. 1 to March 15. It would be taken out of the river just below the Errol Dam with a pumphouse nearby.

The 21-page report outlining the plan was drafted by Horizons Engineering, of Littleton.

It was filed Dec. 17 on behalf of developer Leslie B. Otten, of Bethel Maine, and owners the of the famous Dixville Notch property, Dan Hebert and Dan Dagesse.Otten, who operated American Skiing Company. Otten has formed a partnership with Hebert and Dagesse, working on their plan to raise and spend $100 million in phase one with private investments.

The hotel and the ski area have been closed since 2011.

With the help of Otten, who developed Sunday River ski area among others, the redevelopment plan begins with the ski area.

The hope is to restore the historic Dix House on the property and build a 400-room hotel in the first phase, eventually building 1,000 units of housing.

But it all starts with water.

When Otten met with members of the North Country Chamber of Commerce to outline his ambitious plan in May, he said they could not fulfill the plan for the redevelopment without the water for snowmaking.

Scott Tranchemontagne, spokesman for the developers, said the hope is that the permit could be completed in time for construction to begin in April.